2008-10-01

Happy new year!

Water year, that is. The southern California water year started 1 Oct.

California's reservoirs are down to 62 percent storage capacity. Diamond Valley Lake, a reservoir built by the MWD that is capable of storing nearly 800,000 acre-feet, is expected to be sucked down to 50 percent capacity by the end of the year.

"We are moving into the potential third dry year, and there is not any sort of guarantee that we will be able to refill the reservoirs," said Jennifer Persike, spokeswoman for the Association of California Water Agencies.

Records show that there have been other, much drier periods, such as from 1924-34, 1976-77, and 1987-92.Jennifer McLain, Staff Writer - October 1, 2008